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The discussion on mental health this country needs, but doesn’t want

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It seems like every time our nation suffers a tragedy like yesterday’s shooting at the Washington, D.C. Naval Yard, we hear politicians talk about the need for a national conversation on mental health. But it’s always just that — talk.

It’s in everyone’s interest. As a moral imperative, gun rights activists, including the NRA, don’t want crazy people killing innocent people. On a more cynical level, nothing undermines support for gun rights more than these killing-sprees. As a moral issue, gun control supporters agree. But, on a cynical level, they want to use the issue to prop-up less popular and more contentious regulations. They want their best issue to be part of a “comprehensive” approach.

Maybe it’s time to look at this issue by itself? I have no doubt you could write gun control laws for the mentally ill too broadly. Just as I am confident you can write them too narrowly (we know this is the case because too many deranged men hearing voices have gotten their hands on guns lately). Nothing will ever stop every crazy person from killing people, with or without firearms. But surely there’s a better way to do things than accept these horrors as a new normal?